Low turnout in many area towns

Low turnout was a common complaint by many people at local polls in MetroWest, but some also made a point of saying why it was important for them to vote in the Senate primary yesterday.

By Staff reports

The Herald News, Fall River, MA

By Staff reports

Posted May. 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 1, 2013 at 1:03 AM

By Staff reports

Posted May. 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 1, 2013 at 1:03 AM

» Social News

By Daily News staff

Low turnout was a common complaint by many people at local polls in MetroWest, but some also made a point of saying why it was important for them to vote in the Senate primary yesterday. The following are anecdotes from reporters who went to the polls in area towns:

Natick

Voting was quiet at the Natick Community-Senior Center in the afternoon with no campaign volunteers holding signs and a handful of voters casting ballots around 1 p.m.

Several voters said they were able to follow the campaigns and learn about the candidates despite attention turning away from the election after the Boston Marathon bombings.

"It’s my civic duty," retired teacher Mary Leavitt said of voting

As she left the polling location, Caroline Trainor said she voted for Democrat Ed Markey in part because he has represented the town.

The Democratic and Republican town committees were at the polls collecting food for Natick Service Council’s food pantry.

Westborough

Westborough's five precincts had a combined total of fewer than 800 ballots counted at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Precinct 4 Warden Charlotte Bromley said it was a quiet morning at her precinct's polling location, which is traditionally the busiest of the town's three.

"What's frustrating is the ones who don't come out (to vote) will be the ones who complain about the outcome," Bromley said.

Precinct 2 voter Hannah Delaney said she was inclined to take a walk to the Hastings Elementary School polling location because of Tuesday's favorable weather.

On her way into the school, Delaney said she planned to vote for Democrat Stephen Lynch because he was endorsed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

"I have a friend who's a nurse, so I just wanted to follow suit," Delaney said.

"He's a breath of fresh air because he's not a lifetime politician," Brown said.

Framingham

Poll workers in Framingham, a heavily Democratic town, reported a steady clip of voters Tuesday – even more than they saw for the recent municipal election.

Urged by his wife to go vote, Democrat Bruce Rakusin said he cast his ballot at Walsh Middle School for Markey. So did Tom Gilmore, an unenrolled voter who likes the longtime congressman’s policies and stance on Social Security.

"He’s a solid guy and I think he’ll do a good job for us," Gilmore said.

Tim Moriarty, an unenrolled voter who leans right, said he identifies with Lynch’s blue-collar background and believes he’d better represent the state in the Senate.

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"Steve Lynch speaks to me," Moriarty said. "I hope he wins because I think he’ll be more bipartisan than Markey."

Calling it her "duty" to vote, a nun cast her ballot. The sister said she supported Michael Sullivan, a Republican. "I do not vote for anybody who is pro-choice."

Hudson

Despite a very low interest in the special state primary, voter turnout in Hudson was steady throughout the morning and afternoon thanks to a five-way race for two seats on Hudson’s Board of Selectmen, said Town Clerk Joan Wordell.

"It is the town interest that is bringing people out," said Wordell. "It’s not crazy busy, but it’s steady."

With three different ballots to sort through, Wordell said the town hired additional poll workers who guided voters through the process Tuesday.

Many of the voters at Hudson Town Hall said they cast their ballot due to the interest in the town election rather than the state primary.

After working with Hudson selectmen candidate Philip Dolan on Jon Golnik’s campaign for a Congressional seat and seeing Dolan’s commitment and dedication, Bill Beebee said Dolan would be an ideal selectman.

"He worked very hard and was still nice and never lost his temper," said Beebee.

Holliston

The flow of voter traffic at Holliston High School, the polling place for all Holliston residents, was slow Tuesday afternoon. Students waiting for rides home outnumbered those on their way to the voting booths in the school’s gymnasium.

Town Clerk Elizabeth Greendale said a slow stream of voters came through most of the day, but things died down late Tuesday afternoon. She expected more people to stop by on their way home from work.

"We’re probably doing the same as most polling places," Greendale said.

Local resident Cyndy Northgraves said she was appalled by the lack of interest in Tuesday’s primary. She voted for Michael Sullivan because of his conservative views.

"I am a conservative and he is the most conservative of the three (Republican) candidates," Northgraves said.

Brian Day, who voted at Holliston High just before 4 p.m., cast his ballot for Lynch.

"Easiest ballot I ever saw," Day said with a laugh. "I think the Democrat side is going to win and I think Lynch is the better representative."

Day echoed Northgraves’ concern that not enough attention was being paid to the primary.

"This is your U.S. Senate seat and it is not getting enough attention," Day said.

Ashland

Campaign signs for U.S. Senate candidates and local election candidates lined East Main Street Tuesday for the U.S. Senate primary election.

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By 1 p.m., more than 700 residents had voted at Ashland High School, the polling place for the town's five precincts.

Local resident Lauren Alves voted for Ed Markey, who she said she has met a few times.

"I think he is the best candidate," Alves said. "I believe in his platform. I think he is the right man for the job."

Southborough

At noontime at Trottier Middle School, voters were few and far between, as the official count for Precinct 2 stood at 110.

"It’s been very slow," said poll volunteer Linda Petry. "We haven’t had a line yet."

Jacqulyn Smither said she came out to fulfill a promise she made to herself in 2009 when Democrat Martha Coakley was defeated by Republican Scott Brown for Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat.

"I thought Coakley had it locked up," she said, and didn’t make it to the polls that day. "After that, I decided, ‘No matter, what, I’m voting,’" she said. "Dog catcher? I’m voting."

Smither said she went with Markey Tuesday because she likes his liberal values.

"I think he would bring the stature that Kerry had," she said.

Ruth Flynn, who also supports Markey, said her reason for coming to vote was simple.

"You don’t have any right to complain if you don’t get out to vote," she said.

Of the four voters who spoke to the Daily News around noon, three voted for Markey. The dissenter was Beth Rosenbloom.

"Anybody but Markey," Rosenbloom said. "Ed Markey was in Congress when I was in college. He’s been there too long," she said. "We need a fresh face."

Northborough

Warden Pat Griffin said Tuesday evening that turnout had been slow but steady at Precinct 3 at the Peaslee Elementary School.

Voters had cast 170 ballots by noon, she said, and the ticker stood at 358 at about 6:20 p.m.

Steve and Carol Jones said they came out to vote not only to perform their civic duty, but also to support the election of a Republican candidate.

"(We came) to do our small part to repair the laughingstock disaster that is Massachusetts politics," said Steve Jones.

Both said they were unenrolled but did not want to see a Democratic candidate win. But while Steve Jones voted for who he saw as the most genuine conservative Republican candidate - former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan - Carol Jones elected a different strategy.

"I voted in the Democratic primary for the first time ever," she said, so she could vote against Markey.

With Markey out, the path would be easier for a Republican candidate, she reasoned. She added that she also just doesn’t want to see Markey in office.